Saint Archer Brewing launched last April, one of many craft beer upstarts in the Miramar/Mira Mesa area of San Diego. In less than eight months, it has collected more than 20,000 followers on Instagram. That’s slightly less than industry icon Stone Brewing (30K), but more than Sierra Nevada (15K) and Ballast Point (5K). Now the company has raised $3 million to double its output and expand its distribution into Los Angeles.
“We have standing orders for 50 states,” says CEO Josh Landan. “We just can’t make enough beer.”
How’d the folks at Saint Archer do it? First, they hired two of the top brewmasters in the country—Yiga Miyashiro (ex-Pizza Port) and Kim Lutz (ex-Maui Brewing). Then they made 14 of the raddest dudes alive (and one woman) owners of the company. Saint Archer’s ownership includes: pro skaters like Mikey Taylor and Paul Rodriguez, surfers Taylor Knox and Josh Kerr, industry photogs and filmmakers Jeff Johnson and Atiba Jefferson—the list goes on and on.
Surfing and skating are two of the most idealized professional sports on the planet, full of shirtless global explorers, career beach bums, trespassing punks with superhuman physical skills. People want a glimpse into their lives. They want to be where they are, wear what they wear, drink what they drink.
Saint Archer is the portal into those lives—during happy hour.
Taylor Knox, Josh Landan
Taylor Knox, Josh Landan
Companies like Nike, Patagonia, Red Bull, and DC Shoes pay these icons millions of dollars a year to use their products. Pacifico beer recently hired surf filmmaker Taylor Steele for its ad campaign with the slogan: “Discovered in Baja, Imported by Surfers.”
But with Saint Archer, it’s different. Like the popular Girl Skateboards brand, the athletes actually own Saint Archer. They don’t even get free beer out of the deal (“Even I buy it in the store,” says Landan). Rather than being given free product and equity to be a face of the brand, many of Saint Archer’s star athletes put their own money into the startup.
“The most important thing to all of us is having good beer,” says Mikey Taylor, on a cell phone from somewhere in Malibu. “You can market a product, but you’re only going to get so far if your product sucks. We thought, ‘If we could have a good product and market our lifestyle along with it, we might do pretty well.’”
Saint Archer provides access to that lifestyle. And, as proxy, has become the official craft beer of the surf-skate world.
It wasn’t an inorganic process for Landan, who hatched the idea with Taylor at the Holiday Inn in downtown San Diego four years ago. There was no cold-calling. Landan is a respected filmmaker in the surf-skate world. Before Saint Archer, he ran a management company with his friend Pat Magnarella. Magnarella managed bands (Green Day and Goo Goo Dolls, to name a few) and Landan managed his pro surfer friends like Knox and Mick Fanning.
“I always wanted to do a company with my friends,” he says. “Coming from action sports, we helped give birth to all of these multimillion-dollar brands—from Quicksilver to energy drinks. Why had there never been a craft beer that’s come from us?”
There’s the big thing about beer: Unlike skate shoes or wetsuits, most of America has a use for it.
“The companies that influenced us were the ones who were rider-owned and -operated,” explains Landan. “People love brands that they connect to. Like Michael Jordan’s brand. You connect with Quicksilver athletes, but you know they pay them. But if I’m at Saint Archer and Taylor Knox pours me a beer and says, ‘Hey, thanks for drinking this. I own it’—well, just as a fan I’d say, ‘Holy shit, Taylor Knox owns a beer? I’ll never drink anything else.’”
This one-on-one interaction happens at Saint Archer’s Ambassador Events, where the athletes work the bar and interact with fans. They also interact on Instagram and social media. Saint Archer’s first photo on Instagram was of Taylor Knox in a Saint Archer trucker hat. It received 66 likes. A recent photo of skater Mike Mo Capaldi drinking a Saint Archer reeled in 1,506 “likes.” Taylor estimates that, across all social media, Saint Archer’s celebrity owners reach about five or six million people.
“We just doubled our capacity in six months,” says Landan. “Every milestone we made, we tripled it. There was a photo we put on Instagram of Eric Koston barbecuing and we got 700 new followers in two hours. Crazy.”
Greg Koch, CEO of Stone Brewing Co. (which distributes Saint Archer from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border), puts it pretty succinctly. He says, simply, that they make a quality beer. Then? “Amass international fame for your prowess in extreme sports.”
San Diego is the craft beer capital of America—and that’s not just my opinion, it’s a fact. Already home to hundreds of breweries across the city, San Diego’s beer scene is ever-changing with new breweries emerging, old favorites experimenting with bold flavors, and local tap lists continuing to surprise even the most seasoned enthusiasts.
We all have our favorites, and that’s okay. No two beer drinkers are the same, and consensus in the craft beer world is almost as rare as a bad pint in San Diego. (Though we can probably all agree that Keystone Light belongs nowhere near a tasting flight.)
So, let’s lower our inhibitions and take a tour of San Diego breweries, with a brew worth ordering from each. From sours to stouts, pilsners, and porters, here are our top breweries in San Diego.
Courtesy of Hauck Architecture
North Park Beer Company
Yes, everyone should have their own opinion, but anyone who doesn’t also include North Park Beer Company in their own personal shortlists is wrong. With consistently high-quality brews and 360-degree approach to hospitality, those who wish to see how to run an award-winning brewery need only glance in North Park’s direction.
Locations in North Park, Crown Point, and Bankers Hill
AleSmith has been a giant in San Diego beer for decades, and there’s no sign of them slowing down. Their mammoth tasting room and brewery should be on any beer lover’s pilgrimage list, but don’t just stop your wanderings at the bar. Meander around the Tony Gwynn museum, pop into their not-very-hidden speakeasy Anvil & Stave, and grab a few packs of their housemade Cheesesmith cheese curds on your way out.
9990 AleSmith Ct., Miramar
Courtesy of Nickel Beer Company
Nickel Beer Company
After 10 years, Nickel Beer Company is still going strong. Helmed by local beer pioneer Tom Nickel, his reach extends to a number of beer-centric businesses around the county, but this rustic outpost is a lovely oasis smack in the middle of cider and wine country, offering a wide variety of both esoteric and traditional beers on tap.
1485 Hollow Glen Rd., Julian
Courtesy of Old Town San Diego
Societe Brewing
Societe takes its time, focusing on perfecting what they’re doing before moving onto the Next Big Thing. That’s why it took them 10 years to open a second location, and yes, it was worth the wait. Hype chasers may be left wanting, but those who value consistently excellent beer without gimmick will be more than satisfied.
It’s rare to find a place that self-identifies as “punk rock” that doesn’t end up either seeming pretentious or for posers, but Fall Brewing manages to embrace edginess without either. Whether you’re in Doc Martens or docksiders, all beer lovers are welcome at their two Mid City locations. Come for the IPAs, stay for the stout on nitro.
Locations in North Park and South Park
Courtesy of Kairoa Brewing Company
Kairoa Brewing Company
San Diego doesn’t have nearly as many rooftop patios as it should, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. Perch yourself above University Heights with a pint in hand, but don’t forget to come hungry—Kairoa’s kitchen is as good as their brewhouse.
4601 Park Blvd., University Heights
Courtesy of Hopnonymous Brewing Company
Hopnonymous Brewing Company
Located in the heart of the Convoy District, Hopnonymous is the perfect post-KBBQ wind-down spot. With 18 beers on tap, highlights include the Two Amigos Lime Mexican Lager—a refreshing alternative for Pacifico and Buenaveza fans. If you’re looking for something richer, Leaving Without Saying ‘Goodbye’ is a red ale that pays homage to the classic Irish goodbye with a hint of caramel. Whether you’re capping off a feast or looking for a dog-friendly brewery, Hopnonymous is the place to be.
7705 Convoy Court, San Diego
Courtesy of Pure Project
Pure Project
Pure Project opened in San Diego in 2016, but it seems like they’re been a part of the local brew scene for far longer than that. With 150+ breweries in the county, achieving icon status of this magnitude is no small feat, and I for one am thrilled that they keep opening new spots to make grabbing a pint (or two) easy.
Locations in Carlsbad, Bankers Hill, Miramar, North Park, and Vista
Courtesy of Craft Coast Brewing Company
Craft Coast Brewing Company
Good tacos deserve good beer, and both can be found at this Oceanside hot spot. With Pizza Port brewing alums at the helm and amazing birria coming out of the kitchen, this divine duo is a can’t-miss stop along the coast. Try Craft Coast Brewing Company‘s award-winning Old West IPA alongside a couple of tacos for a meal that’s hard to top.
All the clubs and companies bringing famous names and funny up-and-comers to town
Courtesy of Quartyard SD
By Ombretta Di Dio
On any given Friday night, a line forms across popular downtown corners, packed with people patiently waiting for a couple of hours of laughter and some relief from the monotony of their work week. Stand-up comedy—once only enjoyed locally at La Jolla’s Comedy Store, which opened its doors for the first time in 1977—is now everywhere in San Diego.
But, whether those remarks will actually give you belly laughs or leave you wondering why you even bothered abandoning the couch, depends on a number of variables that go from the night of the week and the lineup of the show, to who produces it. No matter what, however, I assure you that watching live comedy is a risk worth taking. I would know. In the almost 10 years I have been around it, both as a performer and as an audience member, I found nothing better to occupy my nights and my mind.
This guide will help you discover your next favorite spot to laugh and help you navigate the intricate and somewhat daunting map of shows that populate weekly and weekend nights all over town.
Courtesy of Mad House Comedy Club
Stand-Up Comedy in San Diego: The Signature Clubs
Mad House Comedy Club
The Mad House Comedy Club has been a staple among locals for over a decade, thanks to its signature open mic nights (currently on hold) and the comedy shows that, from Wednesday to Sunday, offer a platform to up-and-coming talent and out-of-towners. After Midnight host Taylor Tomlinson graced the stage here before catapulting to celebrity status, and I might have stumbled on that same stage for open mics and shows alike once or twice, too, which basically puts me at the same level as the second-most famous Taylor in show business.
American Comedy Co.
Just a couple of blocks down the road is the American Comedy Co., with its weekly Tuesday-night open mic that attracts hundreds of audience members and dozens of young comics hungry for three minutes in the spotlight. Big Jay Oakerson, Natasha Leggero, and other big names from Los Angeles and New York regularly pay visits to the venue. Locals get to open the act, and if you particularly like any of them, you will find them working the door in between shows. Strike a conversation, and you will make their night.
Mic Drop Comedy
Downtown isn’t the only comedy hotspot! Out in Kearny Mesa, Mic Drop Comedy makes it a mission to feature diverse and unforgettable lineups, as well as themed shows where comedians draw from holidays, movies, and music to deliver side-splitting jokes (picture a Taylor Swift–inspired midday brunch show). Sip cocktails while you get lost in pop culture references or discover witty, new LGBTQ talent and brilliant women headliners.
Courtesy of Duck Foot Brewery
Stand-Up Comedy in San Diego: The Indie Shows
Comedy Heights
If you think comedy merely belongs to clubs, think again. San Diego’s best stand-up shows sometimes happen in bars, breweries, and even yards. Comedy Heights—which called the recently shuttered Twiggs Bakery Cafe home for 12 years—found a new permanent residence in Normal Heights at Lestat’s on Adams, hosting PG-13 comedians every Friday and Saturday. Make sure to grab a complimentary coffee next door and bring your own booze to enjoy the show!
Duck Foot Comedy Night
Comedy is serious business in Miramar, where you can savor an expansive comedy show experience at the familiar Duck Foot Brewery. This monthly event takes place right outside of the brewery and is consistently packed thanks to a good mix of local and nationally touring comics who are funny enough to grab the attention of a sea of people, despite—or maybe thanks to—the unusual location.
Going Dutch Comedy
If you are a fan of crowd work and want to join in the fun of creating comedy magic, head to Going Dutch Comedy’s monthly evening event. Participating comics pick prompts out of a bowl and riff on them then and there to deliver hilarious dating advice. The trick? Audience members get to come up with the prompts. Going Dutch Comedy recently partnered with Don’t Tell San Diego, the national franchise that brings Netflix-approved comedy faces to unexpected secret venues.
Laugh Outside
Every month, Quartyard San Diego transforms into a comedy-filled garden where beer and laughter flow to the sound of seasoned comics and up-and-comers who have learned how to master a major stage. This outside show in the middle of the East Village is ideal for smart audiences who appreciate diverse humor that isn’t overly obscure or edgy.
What does “HTTP” stand for? What is Hermione Granger’s Patronus in Harry Potter? What is the least common zodiac sign? If you love a good trivia night, San Diego has plenty of ways to test out all the random facts and knowledge you’ve stored up over the years—while also enjoying a great craft brew.
We put together a list of the best bars and breweries offering trivia in San Diego where you can win fun prizes like t-shirts, free shots, tasty food, and most importantly, team pride.
Courtesy of Duck Foot Brewing Co.
Duck Foot Brewing Co.
Multiple locations
Duck Foot’s portfolio of gluten-reduced beers means you can have your trivia and beer too, without the gluten levels found in a typical craft beer. Both of their locations offer weekly trivia nights, as well as long tap lists and food trucks for the full experience.
When: Wednesdays in Miramar from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Thursdays in Leucadia from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
What to drink: Their limited releases give patrons a chance to try something new, but I’m partial to their Duckzilla Double White IPA, a mashup between a White Ale and Double IPA.
8920 Kenamar Drive, Suite #210 | 978 N. Coast Highway 101
Black Plague Brewing
Multiple locations
Arrive early to snag a seat at the heavy metal-themed brewery’s trivia nights in all three of their taprooms—it gets pretty packed in all of them. Black Plague’s Purgatory Lounge in Escondido and Oceanside tasting room both have Full Metal Burgers to supply plenty of brain food, and the Dearly Departed taproom in North Park’s full kitchen offers omnivore and vegetarian-friendly fare as well.
When: Tuesdays in North Park from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Thursdays in Oceanside from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Thursdays in Escondido from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
What to drink: Stay hoppy with one of Black Plague’s IPAs, like their Dearly Departed Cold IPA, brewed with three hops for a tropical and citrus-forward refresher.
2899 University Avenue | 2550 Jason Court | 239 E. Valley Parkway
Kilowatt Brewing
Oceanside
See if you can beat Trivia Tim every Tuesday during Trivia Night and Music Bingo at Kilowatt’s Oceanside taproom. Can’t make it on Tuesday, or trivia not your thing? Check out the hidden speakeasy The Space Pad, a psychedelic journey through space and time (open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). Reservations recommended.
When: Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
What to drink: With 25 taps to choose from, Kilowatt offers everything from hazy IPAs to hard seltzers. But I prefer to keep my wits sharp for trivia night, so a low-ABV option like a tangy Berliner Weisse is best.
406 Mission Avenue
Pali Wine Company
Little Italy
Bring a friend to Pali’s free trivia nights every Thursday in Little Italy. Their breezy, modern tasting room is the perfect spot to sip wine, shout answers, and share some small plates like charcuterie, oysters, and yellowtail tuna crudo.
When: Thursdays starting at 7 p.m.
What to drink: Not sure what to start with? Try a curated flight of five different wines, ranging from seasonal favorites to more esoteric natural wines from across California wine country.
Helix Brewing Co. is nestled next to car repair shops and dispensaries, but don’t be fooled by the gritty surroundings. Their indoor/outdoor patio is one of the best-kept secrets in East County and their weekly trivia nights are the perfect chance to come check it out.
When: Thursdays from 6 pm to 8 pm
What to drink: The Commercial Street location is actually home to two concepts: Helix and Sourworx, their wild and sour beer counterpart. Try a little something from both, but their Dark Sour beers like Animals in the Night and Betting On Stars are as complex as they are funky.
8101 Commercial Street
Resident Brewing
Downtown
Pop inside The Local every Wednesday to try your hand at Resident Brewing’s trivia night, paired with brews made by local brew icon and head brewer Bill Lindsay. The space gets pretty lively as the night goes on, so arrive early to stake out a good spot.
When: Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
What to drink: It’s a tie between No-No Joe, their West Coast IPA collaboration with Joe Musgrove, and their Gaslamp Porter, a malty, smooth, and wildly drinkable robust porter. Or, of course, you could just try both.
Enjoy $2 off cider flights during Bivouac’s own Sunset Trivia nights on Wednesdays at their North Park location. Don’t skip their food menu, either—from a Mediterranean meze platter to a chimichurri-smothered steak, this is beyond basic bar food.
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Entrepreneurs typically launch businesses because they’re passionate about a product or service, not because they want to manage its finances. While working to carve out a niche in their respective industries and drive their companies forward, many business owners find themselves bogged down by day-to-day accounting. Their existing accounting tools don’t provide the necessary visibility or insight, and they don’t have the time or resources to hire additional staff or a chief financial officer. That’s where NOW CFO comes in.
For more than 20 years, NOW CFO has been pairing businesses across the country with experienced accounting and finance professionals. Its outsourced model allows clients to customize solutions that match their individual needs, size, and financial challenges, whether that’s fractional or interim support, project-based services, or full-time placement.
NOW CFO’s clients range from startups preparing for rapid growth to established companies that need additional financial leadership without the commitment or expense of building an in-house team. However, many of these companies don’t fully understand their needs until they experience a “trigger” event: preparing for an acquisition or capital raise, navigating a first-time audit, or another period of transition. With a team of over 300 consultants nationwide, NOW CFO can start quickly and match the right expert to the right business.
“It’s important for companies to have financial visibility, and we can help them avoid a lot of the potholes that companies often run into,” says Mariah Block, a partner at NOW CFO’s San Diego branch. “Roughly half of our clients have an in-house finance person or department, and we’re resourced for more bandwidth when they need an extra set of hands at the staff or senior accountant level, or the controller or CFO level. Some clients use this a few hours a month and others use multiple people close to full-time. Our model is solution-based and customizable. We’re like a faucet you can turn on and off.”
With NOW CFO, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Solutions are based on the client’s individual goals, challenges, needs, and budget, meaning a client never pays for more than they need. Whether it’s a few hours of executive-level guidance or a full accounting team to support daily operations, NOW CFO meets businesses where they are and grows alongside them.
“We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the right resources at the right rate and being able to evolve as their needs evolve,” says Block.
And clients appreciate on-demand access to cost-effective support designed to improve performance and profitability.
Luxury car storage service Auto Concierge has partnered with NOW CFO to support growth over the past year. The arrangement began with a staff accountant who covered a leave of absence, but as the client’s needs changed, they also added a controller role. This allowed Auto Concierge to put effective processes in place and navigate operational challenges. Lori Church, Auto Concierge’s chief operating officer, says NOW CFO has been an “outstanding resource” and a “true strategic partner.”
“From the controller to the bookkeeper, every professional they’ve placed has brought a high level of expertise, responsiveness, and professionalism to our organization. Their team took the time to understand our business of high-profile clients and needs, adapted quickly to our fast-paced environment, and became a trusted extension of our team,” she says. “As Auto Concierge continues to grow, having a reliable financial partner like NOW CFO has allowed us to strengthen our financial and business operations while remaining focused on delivering exceptional service to our clients.”
Pairing food with drinks doesn’t have to be fussy or frustrating. Just look at Sauvignon Blanc and raw oysters, tacos and margaritas, or roast duck with Pinot Noir. Classic pairings like these exist for a reason—they’re delicious—but stopping at what’s expected is, well, boring. Why not shake it up by pairing a beloved beverage like craft beer with exciting regional cuisine?
Harland Japanese Lager Asian Food Beer Pairing San Diego
Courtesy of Harland Brewing
At Animae, the high-end, Asian-influenced menu features plenty of innovative cocktails with ingredients like shiso, lemongrass, and pandan, but chef Tara Monsod says beer pairs spectacularly with certain plates from the “Hot Dishes” menu. “All of the hot sides on Animae’s menu—except the wontons—are inspired by Asia’s drinking culture,” she explains. “Fried food pairs perfectly with beer.”
Animae Asian Food Pairing with Beer San Diego San Diego
Courtesy of Animae
She points to Animae’s lechon kawali, a Filipino-inspired dish made of fried pork belly with apple pâté sarsa and plum, as an ideal companion to a popular Filipino lager called Red Horse. For a more craft-oriented local option, I suggest Abnormal Beer Company’s Secret Safari, a 5.0 percent ABV pale ale with tropical citrus notes from the hops and light malt profile. It’s balanced enough to make crispy pork belly pop on the tongue and refreshing enough to wash it down.Golden Hill’s Kingfisher—which was recently recognized by the Michelin Guide and SDM‘s pick for best Vietnamese restaurant 2023 (critic’s choice)—also offers a small number of local draft beers to complement their French-Vietnamese fare. Kingfisher focuses on light and hoppy selections from breweries like Fall Brewing and Harland Brewing to let the food shine against their carefully curated, occasionally intense flavors. Here, a hazy IPA is never out of place, allowing the fruit-forward notes of the hops to sing alongside an umami-rich experience.
Speaking of intensity, pairing spicy food with light lagers does fall under that somewhat obvious pairing umbrella. However, the sheer number of crisp lagers made here in San Diego makes finding the right one a fun (and delicious) endeavor. Wilson To, partner at Cross Street Chicken and Beer, says that while he considers Korean fried chicken and Champagne to be “the underrated pairing of summer,” their menu already provides beer and chicken pairings like Pizza Port’s Chronic Amber with Garlic Parmesan, Alesmith’s .394 Pale Ale with Honey Butter, and their Cross Street Lager with Seoul Spicy, which he calls a crowd favorite. “The carbonation and light refreshing taste helps reset your palate for the next burst of flavor of the sweet and spicy notes of the Seoul Spicy,” To explains. “[But] for the heat seekers that want to elevate the spice, switch the lager with Societe Pupil West Coast IPA.”
Spicy House Asian Food Beer Pairing San Diego
Courtesy of Spicy House
Elevate the spice? Count me in. Two of my absolute favorite Sichuan dishes from Spicy House, Mapo tofu and Cold Chopped Chicken with House Special Sauce (I’m convinced the “special” ingredient is lava), both incorporate a signature spice from China’s Sichuan province: Sichuan peppercorn. Sichuan peppercorn’s trademark is a tongue-numbing sensation, and I’d argue that San Diego’s trademark is craft beer. Crisp lagers like Eppig Brewing’s Special Lager provide the necessary cool-down to keep chowing through the (delicious) pain.
Beer Fridge Barkada Asian Food Pairing with Beer San Diego
Photo Credit: Beth Demmon
Of course, one needn’t stop at light and refreshing. When I pick up a bánh mì from Cali Baguette Express or Lee’s Sandwiches, I prefer a more robust mouthfeel to round out the cured meats, pickled daikon, and crusty bread. That’s when I reach for a Witbier or Saison, like Coronado Brewing’s classic Orange Avenue Wit or Karl Strauss’ Windansea Wheat. The coriander, fruit, and light haze accentuate the flavors of the food, but remain complex enough to enjoy by themselves.
Din Tai Fung Asian Food Beer Pairing San Diego
Courtesy of Din Tai Fung
It’s with dumplings that San Diego beer really shines. Our aggressively bitter IPAs are some of the best beers in the world, and they deserve to go up against some of the best food in the world. That’s where Din Tai Fung comes in. Their globally acclaimed Xiao Long Bao (XLB) soup dumplings burst with aroma and flavor, so it stands to reason the accompanying beer should meet that intensity. Ballast Point’s Sculpin IPA shook the beer world when it first hit shelves and hasn’t slowed down since, resulting in a pairing that’s a match made in heaven.
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Bavarian vibes are returning once again for weekend-long celebrations full of beer gardens and brats. Oktoberfest is a German tradition (which technically begins in September), but there are plenty of places in San Diego offering you the excuse to drink, dance, and avail yourself of pretzels and gingerbread. Grab your stein and prepare your yodel for a memorable weekend. Lederhosen optional.
Compete in stein-holding and bratwurst-eating contests, drink all the beer at the beer garden, and listen to free, live music all day by Ocean Beach Pier.
This brewing company is putting their own Mexican twist on a traditional German holiday in Barrio Logan. Enjoy two days of flowing, foamy beer, custom steins, and food specials to satisfy your cravings for German grub.
Leave your leather lederhosen at home—grab your wetsuit instead. In addition to catching some gnarly waves, your ticket buys access to unlimited beer tastings, music, a t-shirt, and food. The proceeds help provide back surgery and other health services to veterans, economically disadvantaged persons, and animals.
After a weekend full of beer and sausages, give back to the community that has provided much more than just food and brew. This event is put on by I Love A Clean San Diego and Think Blue! with help from Thorn Brewing Company. After a day of hard work, you can celebrate with discounted brews from Thorn Brewing.
If you’re anything like us, it can be easy to get so caught up in taking care of everyone else, that your own needs get lost in the ether. But while this may be a cliché, that doesn’t make it any less true: You can’t give your best self to other people unless you’re taking care of yourself.
Sometimes, that looks like stopping in for your regular acupuncture or chiropractic appointment. Other days, it means giving your body the fresh, organic fuel it needs to truly feel and function at its best. And some other times still, it involves leaving your responsibilities behind for a weekend to pamper yourself at an incredible resort and spa.
Only you can decide what your truly need. We’re just here to help you find the best ways to get it.
Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa
Island living meets desert luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. When you step onto the 11-acre property, you’ll be surrounded by sweeping view of the Santa Rosa Mountains with olive trees and fragrant citrus groves decorating the grounds. In other words, everything about this relaxed but refined resort is primed to help you let go of the stress from home and enjoy easy sun-soaked days and gorgeous starry nights.
The rooms blend calming, woven textures with Tommy Bahama’s signature tropical prints and feature private lanais, making it easy unwind the moment you walk in the door. If you book one of the four Villa Suites, you’ll be treated to exclusive Tommy Bahama furniture and unique personal touches to further that feeling of instant ease.
At the award-winning Spa Rosa, the expert team will help reset and recharge your body and mind using methods and rituals inspired by the desert. The 12,000-square-foot retreat includes outdoor soaking pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and outdoor cabanas, as well as massages, facials, and body masks—all aimed at creating a day dedicated to you. We’re particularly partial to the Day Long Escape, an indulgent all-day affair of CDBs soaks, renewing scrubs, life changing massages, and transformative facials.
Following your treatment, continue the experience with a meal on the patio at Grapefruit Basil. We love the Hamachi Crudo, a light, citrus-forward dish featuring premium yellowtail, house-made ponzu, creamy avocado, and fresh seasonal garnishes.
Whether you’re strolling the gardens, relaxing beside its saltwater pools, or indulging in a restorative treatment, you’ll be able to escape in style and relax in luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa.
Healcove Chiropractic
There’s no shortage of ways to stay active in San Diego—but if you really want to enjoy everything the city has to offer, you’ve got to make sure you’re giving your body its tune-ups. Enter: Healcove Chiropractic. The board-certified chiropractors and wellness professionals at Healcove are experts at addressing that stage where you’re not injured, exactly, but you’re not at 100%, either. Maybe you’re feeling a bit tense or stressed out. Or it could be that you’re not quite moving the way you want to. Sometimes, it’s just that the accumulation of days, weeks, or even years of daily strain is starting to take a toll. No matter what stage you find yourself at, the Healcove Chiropractic team can provide integrated, preventative care centered on long-term, science-backed approaches that ensure you can always stay active and live the life you want to live pain-free.
This starts by providing truly individualized care. Every patient can expect a thorough 60-minute consultation session that includes a posture and movement screening. This allows the team to develop a completely personalized plan. That plan might include chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy, as well as functional fitness training, vibration and sound therapy, and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, a clinical rehabilitation method that retrains the body’s stabilization systems. Whatever the team recommends, you can be sure that it’s tailored to meeting your body’s needs today and the future.
There’s a reason that San Diego Magazine named Healcove the “Best Chiropractor in San Diego”—don’t wait until you’re struggling with an injury to find out why. Book an appointment today for holistic, integrated care that helps ground and heal your body before it reaches a crisis point.
Juice Holler
West Coast wellness culture meets the community feel of Southern Appalachia at Juice Holler. Juice Holler’s menu consists of made-to-order smoothies and smoothie bowls, as well as grab-and-go cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, salads, and more. It operates from the blissfully simple premise that fueling up with food and drink that’s guilt-free and good your body should be simple, accessible, and, above all else, delicious. And if you haven’t yet made it out to the Encinitas café, which opened just this year, let us be the first to tell you: Juice Holler delivers on each and every of these fronts.
We love the Supercharger smoothie, a mood-lifting and body-fueling option made with banana, almond butter, blue spirulina, maca, grass-fed whey protein, raw cacao nibs, medjool dates, and coconut milk. We’re also partial to the Thrive Alive smoothie bowl, where avocado, mango, sea moss, spirulina, mint, coconut milk, and agave are mixed and topped with coconut, chia seeds, strawberry, mango, and chocolate drizzle. The wellness shots include the Detoxifier, a cleansing blend of kale, cucumber, lemon and spirulina, plus a shot specially designed to fight inflammation (named, fittingly, Anti-Inflammation). Probiotic overnight oats, lemon turmeric bars, and strawberry shortcake chia pudding are other standouts on the grab-and-go menu.
Much of the vibe feels beachy North County chic—think green tile with orange and pink accents, grounded with greenery and natural wood—but Juice Holler founder Kelly Sergott, a longtime Encinitas local, has also enfused the space with her Kentucky roots. In Appalachia, a holler is small valley between hills and mountains, where nature reigns, community is king, and nourishment comes right from the land. At Juice Holler, Sergott has created a holler for the busy modern times, using local ingredients to create a spot for people to come together and enjoy fresh, fast, feel-good fuel for their day.
Everwell Acupuncture
We’ve all had that experience with a medical professional where we’ve felt rushed, ignored, or misunderstood—and ultimately, like we didn’t get the answers that we needed. But at Everwell, the holistic acupuncture practice located in Solana Beach, the care team wants to transform your understanding of what healthcare can look like.
Patients at Everwell experience care rooted in intentional listening and radical empathy—and trust us, those aren’t just corporate buzzwords. This place actually puts those ideas into practice. You will always be given the time you need to tell your story— initial in-take appointments are two hours long—and you can rest assured that your story will be believed. Every single question and concern will be addressed by a dedicated practitioner who wants to find the specific solutions that work best for you, and you’ll receive care that’s aimed at healing the body, mind, and spirit.
Everwell’s highly trained, doctorate-level practitioners blend evidence-based acupuncture with the practice of classical Chinese medicine. (If you’ve never tried acupuncture before or aren’t sure if the team will be a fit, we’d highly recommended Everwell’s complimentary 20-minute consultations.) Research shows that by stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture activates a natural healing response in the body, helping to restore balance, regulate the nervous system, and improve overall wellbeing. This allows the practice to address an incredibly wide range of conditions from chronic pain and autoimmune disorders to digestive issues, from stress and burnout to headaches migraines, fertility and postpartum struggles, hormonal imbalances, sleep concerns and more.
At Everwell, you can expect to feel heard, trusted, respected, and cared for. This is a space that doesn’t want to be just another healthcare provider you visit; it wants to provide patients with dedicated partner who will be there for their entire health journey.
